Gripping arm for a bicycle carrier with a ratcheting mechanism

Abstract

A bicycle carrier includes a base configured to support a bicycle, a wheel securement arm, and a connection assembly. The wheel securement arm has a free end and a fixed end. The fixed end is rotatably coupled to the base. The connection assembly is coupled to the wheel securement arm and fixed to the base. The connection assembly is configured to rotate the wheel securement arm about the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bicycle carrier, comprising:
 a base configured to support a bicycle; 
 a wheel securement arm having a free end and a fixed end, wherein the fixed end is rotatably coupled to the base; and 
 a connection assembly coupled to the wheel securement arm and fixed to the base, the connection assembly being configured to rotate the wheel securement arm about the base, 
 wherein the connection assembly comprises a housing and a telescoping arm, and wherein a distal end of the telescoping arm is disposed within the housing; 
 wherein the housing comprises a ratcheting assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The bicycle carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the fixed end of the wheel securement arm is coupled to the first end of the base. 
     
     
       3. The bicycle carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the ratcheting assembly is configured to engage a toothed surface. 
     
     
       4. The bicycle carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the toothed surface is disposed on an exterior surface of the telescoping arm. 
     
     
       5. The bicycle carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the toothed surface is disposed on an underside of the exterior surface. 
     
     
       6. The bicycle carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the connection assembly is coupled to the base by a housing. 
     
     
       7. The bicycle carrier of  claim 6 , wherein the ratcheting assembly is disposed within the housing. 
     
     
       8. The bicycle carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuation member coupled to the connection assembly. 
     
     
       9. The bicycle carrier of  claim 8 , wherein the actuation member comprises a lever configured to release the connection assembly and thereby allow rotation of the wheel securement arm. 
     
     
       10. The bicycle carrier of  claim 8 , wherein the actuation member comprises a knob, a button, a handle, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       11. The bicycle carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a stinger coupled to the base and configured to couple the bicycle carrier to a vehicle hitch. 
     
     
       12. The bicycle carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is rotatably coupled to the base and the telescoping arm is rotatably coupled to the wheel securement arm. 
     
     
       13. The bicycle carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel securement arm is configured to rotate between a closed configuration and a loading configuration relative to the base, and wherein the distal end of the telescoping arm is disposed within the housing in the closed configuration and in the loading configuration. 
     
     
       14. The bicycle carrier of  claim 1 , wherein a ratcheting assembly is disposed within the housing and is configured to engage a toothed surface disposed on the telescoping arm. 
     
     
       15. A bicycle carrier, comprising:
 a base configured to support a bicycle, the base comprising a first end and a second end; 
 a wheel securement arm having a free end and a fixed end, wherein the fixed end is rotatably coupled to the first end of the base at a first attachment point; and 
 a ratchet arm rotatably coupled to the base at a second attachment point and coupled to the wheel securement arm at a third attachment point, the ratchet arm comprising a housing and a telescoping arm, 
 wherein, in a closed configuration, the third attachment point is disposed longitudinally between the first attachment point and the second attachment point, and an end of the telescoping arm is disposed within the housing, and 
 wherein, in a loading configuration, the first attachment point is disposed longitudinally between the second attachment point and the third attachment point, and the end of the telescoping arm is disposed within the housing. 
 
     
     
       16. The bicycle carrier of  claim 15 , wherein, in the loading configuration, a length of the ratchet arm from the second attachment point to the third attachment point is greater than in the closed configuration. 
     
     
       17. The bicycle carrier of  claim 15 , further comprising an actuation member coupled to the ratchet arm and configured to release the ratchet arm thereby allowing for translating the ratchet arm from the closed configuration to the loading configuration. 
     
     
       18. A method of operating a bicycle carrier, comprising:
 engaging an actuation member, wherein engaging the actuation member disengages a ratcheting assembly coupled to a ratchet arm; and 
 rotating a wheel securement arm coupled to the ratchet arm in a first direction about an attachment point between a closed configuration and a loading configuration, 
 wherein rotating the wheel securement arm in the first direction increases a length of the ratchet arm, and 
 wherein the ratchet arm includes a first telescoping part and a second telescoping part coupled to the first telescoping part and configured to translate within the first telescoping part such that an end of the second telescoping part is disposed within the first telescoping part when the wheel securement arm is rotated between the closed configuration and the loading configuration. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the engaging the actuation member allows for translating the ratchet arm thereby allowing rotation of the wheel securement arm. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 rotating the wheel securement arm in a second direction to contact a bicycle wheel with the wheel securement arm. 
 
     
     
       21. A bicycle carrier, comprising:
 a base configured to support a bicycle; 
 a wheel securement arm having a free end and a fixed end, wherein the fixed end is rotatably coupled to the base and configured to rotate between a closed configuration and a loading configuration relative to the base; 
 a ratchet arm having a first fixed end rotatably coupled to the wheel securement arm and a second fixed end rotatably coupled to the base, wherein the ratchet arm comprises:
 a first telescoping part, wherein an end of the first telescoping part is fixed to the wheel securement arm or the base; and 
 a second telescoping part coupled to the first telescoping part and configured to translate within the first telescoping part, wherein an end of the second telescoping part is disposed within the first telescoping part when the wheel securement arm is rotated between the closed configuration and the loading configuration; and 
 
 an actuation member configured to release the ratchet arm and thereby allow rotation of the wheel securement arm between the closed configuration and the loading configuration, wherein the actuation member is disposed on the first telescoping part. 
 
     
     
       22. The bicycle carrier of  claim 21 , wherein the first telescoping part comprises a ratcheting assembly configured to engage a toothed surface of the second telescoping part.